2690: Resignation

A quotation (in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations) runs clockwise around the perimeter of the grid, beginning with the last letter of 20. The apostrophe has to be included where it appears. Five unclued lights are of a kind; one is directly linked to the quotation, the others indirectly.

Across

9 Dangerous atmosphere in outskirts of Hackney (5)

10    Criticise extremely burdensome tariff (6)

11    Careless ironworker losing wok by mistake (2,5)

13    Auntie putting end of thumb on buzzer (4)

15    Idiot and old spies regularly billed as ‘potentially connected’ (10)

16    Reportedly joined model, 33, in bath? (8)

20    Footballing great from Lazio once collared by detective (7)

21    Hard work exhausted industrious Native Americans (5)

26    Start to put axes in box (3)

30    Authorisation of e.g. standing order (3-2)

32    Thief in cathedral grubbing about (7)

33    Dismal English music genre (5)

34    I’m rated ‘fantastic’ as hotel manager (6,2)

35    Enthusiastically start distributing inoculant around hospital (6,4)

37    Stimulant leaves couple of codgers agitated at first (4)

38    Secure information about drying hay (7)

39    Convert put to death in church (6)

40    ‘Goodbye’, said advisor, oddly dismissed (5)

Down

2 Ex-PM ignoring that US singer (4)

3 Rockets unfortunately scaring pet (10)

4 Dull experts are initially in charge (7)

5 Tsarinas desperate for skilled workers (8)

6 Old malaria drug consumed by Google’s co-founder (7)

8 Blue diamonds concealed by Jones the Architect (6)

12    Quantity of mescal affects part of inner ear (5)

14    Antelope dash over middle of meadows (5)

17 Musicians briefly run Post Office (3)

18    Old-fashioned broadcaster acting as mediator (5,5)

22    Last of lackadaisical dons perking up and marrying (8)

24    Puny half-cut Asian making Indian scoff (5)

28    Naked heathen military commander (3)

29    Iodine and deuterium found in common compound (7)

31    Appeal for help interrupted by total losers (6)

34    One’s upset about Slough (4)

36    Communist cobblers holding up introduction of technology (4)

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A first prize of a £30 John Lewis voucher and two runners-up prizes of £20 vouchers for the first correct solutions opened on 3 March.